Grading machine



- March 6, 1928.

J. D. GRABILL GRADING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10. 1927 2 Sheets-Slight. 1

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MN MW gnwntog 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. D. GRABILL GRADING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10

March 6, 1928 hn/D.

Grabill,

(lttozmup Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

JOHN D. GRABILL, OF WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA.

GRADING MACHINE.

Application filed September 1927. Serial No. 218,802.

This invention relates to improvements in grading machines and more particularly to grading machines for fruits and vegetables of the type in which a plurality of endless traveling sizing chains are employed, arranged end to end in series.

In the use of grading machines of the class referred to that have a'series of sizing chains disposed end to end, if it is desired to separate the fruit, vegetables or the like into a less number of grades than will be affected by the entire series of sizing chains, or to employ only certain chains of the series, it is necessary to completely remove .the sizing chains not desired from the machine and to rearrange the remaining siz ing chain units and the driving connections accordingly. As will be understood the re moval replacement, and rearrangement of the sizing chain units and driving connections necessary in changing from the use of all to only certain of the series of sizing chains and vice versa, is a serious drawback in the use of the machine interchangeably in this way to meet different demands as to the number and size of the grades required.

The object of the invent-ion is to provide means of a simple, efiicient, inexpensive nature that can be easily and quickly applied to a grading chain to close the sizingopenings of the chain and convert the chain into a transfer belt or conveyor, and whereby a grading machine can be quickly changed to eliminate any one or more of its sizing chains asregards the exercise of the sizing function thereof and permit of the use of any one of a series of sizing chains independently of or incombination with any of the others without removal of any of the sizing chain units from the machine or disturb ing the chain driving connections, and without destroying the continuous character of the machine. I

The invention with other objects and advantagesthereof, and the particular con struction, combination and arrangements of parts comprising the same, will be understood from description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, part hereof and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a grading the hereinafter contained detail forming machine having applied to one of its sizing chains a cover member or device in accordance with the present invention.

Fig; 2 is a vertical longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a detail top plan, on areduced scale and broken away, of the cover member laid out fiat. i

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a sizing chain with the cover member applied thereto.

Fimb is-a detail view, on an enlarged scale of a portion of the sizing chain and end portions of the cover member with means securing the same to the sizingchain.

The invention comprehends an endless flexible cover member for a sizing ch'amadapted to be secured about the chain to close the sizing openings of the chain and to act with the chain as a conveyor belt or transfer means. More particularly, the invention contemplates'a cover device comprising a strip of flexible material of a length and width corresponding generally to that of the sizing chain and adapted to be arranged thereabout I to extend over and close the sizing openings of the chain, and meansfor securing said cover strip to the sizing chain. Theinvention further comprehends the use of one or more of such cover-devices in combination with a series of grading chains to eliminate as desired one or more of the series of sizing chains as asizing medium and to convert the same'into one or more plane conveyor belts.

' Referring to a detail description of the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, 1 designates the frame of the grading machine, the same being shown as comprising uprights 2 and upper and lower side rails 3 l. Mounted on theupper part of the frame 1 is a plu- 1 rality of endless traveling sizing: chains having different size grading openings, said sizk ing chains being arranged endto end in series progressively in accordance with the size of grading openings therein and with the sizing chain having the smaller size openingsin advance. In this exemplification of the invention three of such sizing chains are shown, designated A'-B-C.

The structure of the chains AB-,C, here shown,-is the same as that illustrated "in my Patent No. 1,636,227 dated J uly 19, 1927, the chain structure comprising rigid trans verse rod members .5 and seriesof interim Cir diate longitudinal link members 6 pirotally connected therewith, said transverse rod members and link members being relatively arranged to provide similar size grading openings, as shown, throughout the chain, the link members 0 being spaced apart by sleeves T on the transverse rod members 5. At either side of the chain is a set of outer longitudinal link members 8 similar in construction to the series of link members 7 and pivot-ally connected to the outer end portions of the transverse rod members 5, the outer sets of link members 8 with the outermost of the series of link members 7 and the outer end portions of the transrers rod members 5 constituting side sections to engage driving sprocket wheels. Spacing sleeves are provided between the longitudinal link members S and the outermost ot' the series of link members 7.

The. su 'iporting and driving means for the series of sizing chains ABC CODIPIlSQS pairs of rolls 9, 10, and sprocket wheels 11 located at either end of the rolls 9. The rolls 9 and sprocket wheels 11 are fixedly secured to shafts 12, 13, 14. and the rolls 1t) fixed to shafts 15, the several shafts being mounted for rotation in suitable hearings on the frame 1. The sprocket wheels 11 project radially outward beyond the faces of the rolls 9 so that the sizing chains ABC engage the rolls 9, and the outer side sections of the chain including the outermost; of the series of links the outer links 8, and the end portions of the transverse rod members engage the sprocket wheels. 16 designates a motor mounted on the lower part of the frame 1 and connected by a belt 17 with a pulley 18 on one end of the. shaft .13 for driving the series of sizing chains, motion being transmitted from the shaft 13 to the shafts 12, 11-, through the medium of sprocket chains 19, 20, engaging pinions 21. 22 on shafts 12. l-t, and pinions 23, 24 on the shaft 13. Q5 designates a hand crank adapted to be engaged with one end of the shaft .12. as shown. to provide for manually operating the series of chains, if desired. The machine is provided at its forward end with a. hopper 2t} and with a table 27 at its discharge end. 29 are side boards extending substantially the full length of the frame at either side of the sizing chains for holding the fruit. vegetables, or the like, on the chains. A ssociated with the several sizing chains ..rB-C are laterally extending slatted transverse aprons 29.

3O designates the endless flexible cover member or device adapted to be. secured on a. sizing chain, to extend over and close the sizing openings of the chain and act with the sizing chain as a simple conveyor belt or transfer means. The endless flexible cover member or device 30 comprises a sheet of flexible material of a length and width corresponding generally to that of the sizing chains A.-B-C, adapted to be wrapped or arranged about the sizing chain. with its ends brought adjacent in the form of a band, and means for securing said co\'el' member to the sizing chain to trarel therewith. The endless flexible cover member 30 is preferably constructml of (.llllYtlS or the like, but the same may he formed of any other material suitable for the purpo-e. Any appropriate means may be employed to secure the cover member it!) to the sizing chain. The means shown in the present instance for this purpose comprises tcries ot eyelets 31 in the end portions of the cover strip 30, and ties $12 in the form of short sections of light rope, twine, or the like. the sections of rope or twine 32 being looped through the eyelets Ill of one end poition of the cover strip 30 (as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. One of the looped ends 32 of the rope sections 32 is carried around one of the series of longitudinal lint-z members 7 and tied with the other free end 32". Following this one of the looped end portions 32 is passed through one of the eyelets ll of the other end portion of the cover strip 2) and the two free end portions 32 finally tied together (as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings), the two end portions of the cover men'iber 3) being thus secured together and to the sizing chain. The cover member 80 may be very quickly and easily arranged on and secured to the sizing chain by simply securing one end portion of the cover member to links 7, as previously explained, then transmitting movement to the series of sizing chains until the core:- men her 30 has been com 'iletely wrapped about the chain and the adjoining end portions of the voter member are at the uppcr side of the chain as shown in Figure :l t' the drawings. The other end portion of the cover member 30 can then be easily secured by the tie pieces 32.

It has been found in practice that the securing of the cover member 30 at its end portions by the eyelets 2}]. and the tiesas hereinbefore explained, is sutlicient to satisfactorily hold the cover member to the sizing chain. However under certain conditions. it may be desirable to al-zo secure the cover member 30 at; marginal side portions thereof to the sizing chain, and for this purpose the cover member may be provided, as shown. with eyelets .53 at intervals along its marginal side portions. and cured to the outermost of the series of link members 7 of the sizing chain by other ties 3-}.

In the operation of the machine, under ordinary conditions when all three of the sizing chains A-B-C are employed, the apples or the like are separated into four grades, the smaller size apples dropping through the openingszin the first size chain A, the intermediate sizes being carried re spectively to chains B and C and dropping through the openings therein, and the larger size apples being carried bythe series of chains ABC to the discharge end of the machineto the table 27, the smaller and intermediate grades which drop through the Openings ofthe Sizing chains, A-B-C,"being delivered by the aprons 29 to one side of the machine.

IVhen it is desired to separate the fruit, vegetables or the like into a less number of grades, all that is necessary is to apply a cover member or cover members 30 to the sizing chains which it is desired to dispense with. In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a cover member 80 is shown applied to the second chain B of the series of sizing chains. As will be understood with this arrange ment, the apples or the like which aretoo large to pass through theopenings in the chain A are carried'forward onto the covered chain Band transferred to the succeeding chain C, thechain B, in'this instance, not functioning as a sizing medium but with its cover member 30 acting as a simple conveyor. 7 r

Itwill be noted that the invention provides means of a simple inexpensive nature which can be quickly and easily applied to a sizing chain to close the openings therein and act therewith as a simple conveyor or transfer means so that a grading machine can be quickly changed to eliminate any one or more of its sizing chains as regards the exercise of the sizing function thereof, and providing for the use ofany one of a series of sizing chains independently ofor in combination with any of the others with out removal of any of the sizing chain units from the machine or disturbing the driving connections, and without destroying the continuous character of the machine.

\Vhile a specific embodiment of the invention, which has proven satisfactory in practice, is illustrated in thedrawings, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made in the particular construction shown, and the invention carried out in other forms of constructions, as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. The flexible cover member or device 30 may of coursebe employed with to travel therewith and to close the sizing openings of the chain, and means for securing the cover member to the sizing chain.

In a vgradingmachine, the combination with a series of endless traveling sizing chains and supporting and driving means therefor, of an endless flexible cover mem ber adapted to be arranged on a sizing chain to travel therewith and to close the sizing openings of the chain, and means for securing the cover member to a sizing chain.

In a grading machine, the combination with -a series of endless traveling sizing chains and supporting and driving means therefor, of a cover member comprising a strip of flexible material adapted to be arranged about a sizing chain to close the sizing openings of the chain, and means for. se-:

curing the cover member to the sizing chain for travel therewith. I

4. In a grading machine, the combination with a series of endless traveling sizing chains and supporting and driving means therefor, of acover member comprising a strip of flexible material adapted to be arranged about a sizmg chain to close the sizing openigns of the chain, and means for securing the cover memberat its end portions to' the sizing chain for travel therewith.

5. In a grading .inachine, the combination with a series of endless traveling sizing chains and supporting and driving means therefor, of a cover member comprising a strip of flexible material adapted to be arranged about a sizing chain to close the sizing openings of the chain, and means for securing the cover member at its side marginal portions to side portions of the sizing chain.

6. In a grading machine, the combination of a series of endless traveling sizing chains and supporting and driving means therefor,

of a cover member comprising a strip of canvas or the like adapted to be secured on a sizing chain to close the sizing openings of the chain and for travel therewith, said cover strip being provided at its end portions with fastening means for securingthe same to the sizing chain.

7. In a grading machine, the combination with aseries of endless traveling sizing chains and supporting and driving means therefor, of a cover member comprisinga strip of canvas or the-like adapted to be secured on a sizing chain to close the sizing openings of the chain and for travel therewith, said cover strip being provided at its side marginal portions with means for securing the same to side portions of the sizing chain.

8.- In a grading machine. the combination with an endless sizing chain comprising rigid transverse rod members and series of intermediate longitudinal links pivot-ally connected to the transverse rod members and spaced to provide. grading openings of a. similar size, and supporting and driving means for the sizing chain, of a cover member for the sizing chain comprising a strip of canvas or the like adapted to be arranged about the sizing chain to close the sizing penin 's therein and for travel with the chaimsaid cover member being provided with eyelets along its end portions, and means cooperating with said eyelets to secure the end portions of the cover member to longitudinal link members of the chain.

9. In a grading machine, the combination with an endless sizing chain comprising rigid transverse rod members and series of intern'iediate longitudinal links pivotally connected to the transverse rod members and spaced to provide grading openings of similar size, and supporting and driving means for the sizing chain, of a cover memher for the sizing chain comprising a strip of canvas or the like adapted to be'arranged about the sizing chain to close the sizing openings therein and for travel with the a chain, said cover member being provided with eyelets along its end portions, and ties cooperating with said eyelets to secure the end portions of the belt to longitudinal link members of the chain.

10. In a grading machine, the combination with an endless traveling sizing chain comprising rigid transverse rod members and series of intermediate longitudinal link members pivotally connected to the transverse rod members and spaced to provide grading openings of similar size, and supporting and driving means for the chain, of a cover member for the sizing chain comprising a strip of canvas or the like adapted to be arranged about the sizing chain to close the sizing openings thereof and for travel with the chain, said cover member being provided with eyelets along its side marginal portions, and means cooperating with said eyelets to secure the cover member at side marginal portions thereof to the longitudinal link members of the chain.

11. A cover device for a grading chain comprising a strip of canvas or the like of a length and width corresponding to that of a grading chain adapted to be arranged about the grading chain to close the sizing openings of the chain and act with the chain as a conveyor, and means for securing said cover strip to the sizing chain for travel therewith.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOHN D. GRABILL. 

